- A radical, Islamicized American wife is distraught that her divorce has given custody of their son to the father. She hooks a bomb to her car so that the entire family dies. Danny investigates Arabic emails and defuses the situation.
- An intercepted Arabic e-mail, presumably to Al-Qaeda, from US-born Khalid Hassan, Muslim convert name of Steve Haas, son of a Yemeni immigrant, and ingredients found in his home suggest he planted a large bomb with nails somewhere in Manhattan. Even Jamie and his mentor, who shows him silly advertising suits make ideal crime covers, are kept in the dark as Frank convinces the mayor not to risk a panic by going public without specific information. Danny once helped Steve as terrified abuse victim but can't get through to him and suspects discrimination drove him to extremism. The key is provided by his family, as the ex of his brother, economics academic Adam Hassan, is detected by a 'random' roadblock, driving with their 9 year-old son Jacob.—KGF Vissers
- The Reagans argue the pros and cons of profiling as Frank, Danny and the rest of the NYPD search for a bomb that is about to detonate in Manhattan.—CBS Publicity
- As the episode begins, the NYPD is conducting a raid. They break into an apartment of a man with a beard. He is ordered to put his hands up and not to move. At the Reagan household, Erin arrives and meets Henry in the kitchen as they are getting ready for an outing. Henry complains about not wanting to go to a handball tournament. Erin reminds him that he loves handball. Henry reminds her that he loved to play handball. Frank appears and announces that he cannot attend the tournament. Danny also arrives and is ready to go, but he questions Frank as he leaves. Danny also reminds Frank that it is his grandson's birthday. Frank assures Danny that he has never missed a birthday yet and leaves. Henry scolds Danny for being late. Danny explains that he worked a late shift the night before and is interrupted by a phone call. Danny is called back to work as well, leaving Erin and Henry to go out to the handball tournament by themselves.
On the way to one Police Plaza, Frank is being briefed on the raid. The man who was arrested is named Steven Haas who adopted the name Khalid Hassan. Hassan sent an email to leaders of al-Qaeda with the message "Today no rest for oppressors in New York City. In area of fireball slaughters crusader enemies". On his computer, the police found instructions on how to build a car bomb. At his apartment they also found chemicals, tools and wires, but no device and no car. The car was not registered, but neighbors reported seeing an older dark colored SUV. Frank asks what the target would be. No target had been specified, but a map of the 59th Street Bridge was also recovered. Frank orders that all checkpoints be doubled at all bridges and tunnels leading in and out of Manhattan. Frank then declares that it's not going to happen again, referencing the events of 9/11. Danny is getting the same information from his partner, Ava, and then realizes that Linda is taking their sons, Sean and Jack, to the Central Park Zoo for Jack's birthday. Danny tries to call Linda, but her phone dies as she forgot to charge her phone the night before. Linda and the boys are heading into the city by subway. Danny leaves her a voicemail telling her to turn around and head back home. The police are checking all dark colored SUVs as a car with Arabic writing on the rear view mirror drives into the city.
Frank arrives at One Police Plaza where he meets with Chief Bell and Agent Mills of Homeland Security in an emergency command center. Chief Bell reports that a description of the car has gone over the airwaves and all of the police have been called into active duty, but with the large number of dark SUVs in the city, it would take hours to search each one. Agent Mills declares that will give every bit of data they have on Hassan. Frank asks why he is just now hearing about Hassan. Agent Mills tells him that Hassan is an American citizen with an American passport even though he was in Yemen 14 months prior. Frank deduces that Hassan took part in bomb training. Agent Mills admits that his trip to Yemen was not suspicious. Frank goes into his office with Chief Bell and asks how they are certain that the bomb is still in the car. Chief Bell answers that diagrams of the car show that having the bomb inside of it would cause a maximum effect. However, he declares that the bomb is not nuclear because there were no traces of radiation on Hassan or in his apartment. Frank asks what kind of damage can be done. Chief Bell answers, with the ingredients and full formula used, the bomb could have a one block radius. Frank adds another half block with the additions of fragments and shrapnel. Frank finds out that Hassan is being held at Danny's precinct. Chief Bell remarks that Danny's interrogation skills are quite effective to which Frank silently agrees. The car with the Arabic writing drives past Yankee Stadium.
In the city, Jamie and Sgt. Renzulli approach a dark SUV, but Sgt. Renzulli dismisses it when he realizes the car is too clean to be a threat. Jamie comments that this bomb alert seems more serious than a previous call they received. Sgt. Renzulli tells him that since 9/11 a lot of threats come in regularly, but they all turn out to be nothing. He would know if the threat is more credible if another alert comes in. They look up ahead and Sgt. Renzulli sees a guy in a hot dog costume holding a sign. He believes him to be suspicious, but Jamie doesn't take it seriously. Sgt. Renzulli explains to him that he could be hiding contraband in his costume and spots him getting nervous. Jamie again doesn't take it seriously. Sgt. Renzulli orders him to go question him. Jamie tries to remind him about the bomb threat, but Sgt. Renzulli reminds him that it would get serious only if another alert comes in. Jamie denies the order, saying that he is not going to question a guy in a hot dog costume. Sgt. Renzulli then explains and asks why would somebody take a humiliating job unless there's something else going on? Jamie tries to reason with Sgt. Renzulli saying that unemployment is high. Sgt. Renzulli again orders Jamie to stop, question, and frisk the guy in the hot dog costume. Jamie finally relents and approaches the guy in the costume. As he approaches, the guy in the costume throws down his sign and tries to run away. Jamie gives chase and tackles the guy to the ground. When they hit the ground, a bunch of illegal drugs fall out of his costume. As Jamie finishing handcuffing the man in the costume, another alert comes over the airwaves.
At Danny's precinct, Danny attempts to contact Linda, but her phone again goes to voicemail. Danny suggests that the Central Park Zoo could be a possible target. Ava suggests that Danny head to the zoo to warn his family, but Danny refuses. Ana shows Danny a picture of Hassan and asks if he remembers him. Danny admits that he does; Hassan was the victim of a strong arm robbery case in the East Village which Danny helped solve. Danny can't believe that a scared young kid like that had become a radical. Ava announces that a secondary squad is tracking down a few of Hassan's cousins and that he had become estranged from his parents. Danny again tries to contact Linda by having her paged at the zoo when Detective Vitale and Hassan arrive to began questioning. Vitale reminds Danny to stick by the book while questioning Hassan so his case ends up sticking. The car with the Arabic writing passes Grand Central Station.
Erin and Henry are walking in the city and they pass a checkpoint with confused looks on their faces. Erin figures out that is the reason why Danny and Frank had to leave to go to work. Erin suggests contacting her office, but Henry stops her by saying that they won't know anything; it's a police matter and they should do their work. Henry then looks up and smiles as they have arrived at the handball courts. Henry admits that it is good to back at a place where he used to spend his Saturdays. Back at the precinct, Vitale begins questioning Hassan. Danny comes into the room and says that his name is not Hassan, but Steve. Vitale reminds Hassan that if the bomb goes off, he could be facing multiple homicides. Hassan could also be facing a federal death sentence. Danny looks at Vitale and says that Steve isn't afraid of the death penalty; why else would he outsource someone else to blow themselves up? Hassan remains silent. Vitale pleads with Hassan and he breaks his silence by saying that Vitale's life is meaningless and corrupt. Vitale reminds Hassan that, if the bomb goes off, all deals are off the table. Hassan defiantly rejects any deals and asks for his lawyer. Danny tells him his lawyer is delayed because of the checkpoints and then asks Steve if he remembers him. Steve remains silent again, but Danny figures out that he does indeed remember him. Hassan calls him corrupt as well just like his wife and children. Danny becomes angry at this which causes Vitale to send him out of the room. Hassan asks for something to drink which Danny sarcastically agrees to.
At the emergency command center, Frank asks to see the original email, noting that the phrasing seems odd. Going over the sentence "In area fireball slaughters crusader enemies". The technician tells Frank that Hassan is a non-native Arabic speaker and the word that Hassan used that meant "area" may have meant something else. Frank needs to know what Hassan exactly meant. The technician picks up on a live chat between a cafe and a rural training camp in Yemen. One declares that the people of New York will suffer as they have. The other asks if it has been done and the reply is before the new day. Frank then deduces that they have until 5 o'clock before the bomb detonates. Frank then receives a call from the mayor asking for a joint public statement. Frank recommends no public statement at this time. When Chief Bell tries to reason, Frank tells him that the information that they do have would do nothing but cause a panic. Agent Mills reminds Frank that there could be repercussions for withholding information and that he would have to let people in Washington D.C know about this. Frank admits that he is well aware of the risks. Jamie and Sgt. Renzulli get called in to assist with a checkpoint instead of taking the guy in the hot dog costume to jail. As they approach a checkpoint, a dark SUV attempts to cross the checkpoint without being searched. Jamie drives his police car and blocks the SUV, almost causing a crash and causing the guy in the hot dog costume to scream. Jamie and Sgt. Renzulli order the driver to show his hands with their guns drawn. Sgt. Renzulli calls in the bomb squad and Emergency Service Unit. They approach the driver and ask if there is a bomb in the car. This causes the driver to freak out and scream out that there is a bomb in the car. Sgt. Renzulli then asks if the driver is stoned, to which he admits. Jamie calls off the ESU and bomb squad and the driver is arrested for being under the influence of a controlled substance.
Danny announces that Steven is not talking and needs to find out who is driving the car. Ava announces that there have been over 700 people stopped and it would take 2 days to go through all of them. Danny suggests only looking at Arab people who may have been connected to Steven Haas. Ava suggests cross checking through airlines and Danny suggests seeing if any people of Steven's mosque are involved. The car with the Arabic writing drives through a tunnel and passes the Metlife building. Danny again tries to call Linda, but it keeps going to voicemail. When the phone does ring, Erin is on the line asking what is going on in the city. Danny confirms that it is a credible bomb threat in Manhattan. Erin offers to leave Brooklyn and head to Manhattan to warn Linda and the kids, but Danny tells her to stay in Brooklyn where it is safe. Danny is also frustrated that he has checked every possible Arab without any results. Erin suggests that the suspect might not be Arab. Erin has numerous open cases and reminds him that a video on the Internet is recruiting American terrorists. Danny plays off Erin's suggestion. He and Ava start looking at all the checkpoint stops that were looked over for not being suspicious. Henry and Erin are watching the handball games and Henry is enjoying yelling at the players and having a good time. Henry remembers how much of a good time he had playing and Erin suggests that someday he might do so. Henry admits that his playing days are over since he uses a cane to get around. Erin then asks Henry who is going to teach his great granddaughter, Nicky, about handball. Henry says that Nicky doesn't care about handball. Erin reminds him that Danny didn't care about handball either. Instead, Danny liked spending time with his grandfather and listening to old stories. Henry asks Erin about her phone call. Erin admits that there is a car bomb threat in the city. Henry becomes angry wondering when all this is going to stop. He then remembers that bomb threats in his day were different than the ones that take place now.
At the precinct, the interrogation continues. Vitale asks Hassan what the email said. Hassan refuses, saying that he has a translation in front of him. Vitale tells him that it doesn't make any sense. He again reads out loud "No rest for the oppressors today in New York City" to which Hassan admits that is what is written. Hassan asks for a drink of water which Danny refuses. Vitale again reads the email noting there are more words written. Vitale asks Hassan if he knows Arabic to which Hassan admits that he does. Vitale asks him to translate words from the email. He points to a word and Hassan translates it by saying "Crusader enemies". Vitale asks the next word, Hassan translates it to the word "slaughter". Vitale asks the next word, Hassan translates it to "fireball". Vitale asks another word, and Hassan translates it to the word "park". Vitale questions this saying that the word meant "area". Hassan reconfirms that the word "Mintaqa" means park. Vitale then deduces that the intended target is a park. The car with the Arabic writing drives near Washington Square Park.
Frank is given the information at the emergency command center that all the police are being redeployed to every park and playground in Manhattan. Frank admits that it is a good lead in the case when he finds out that Mayor Frank Russo has arrived. Frank excuses himself to speak with the mayor. The mayor reprimands Frank by asking wouldn't it have been better if the public was informed? Frank answers that it would have been a better if the information on the car and target was more specific, otherwise he would be creating chaos. The mayor asks what would happen if the bomb went off and no one was warned about it. Frank declares that the bomb will be found and disarmed. The mayor then gives Frank a deadline of 4 o'clock and orders him to be at a press conference. Back at the precinct, Danny and Ava are still having trouble going through all the people that have been stopped at police checkpoints. Danny comes across someone named Mary Jo Clarkson who is married to Steven's cousin, Alex Haas. Danny looks up Mary Jo's social media page. Ava finds out that Alex was questioned at his college where he teaches economics, but he has no known contacts with extremist groups. Danny dismisses that stating that Mary Jo was stopped at a checkpoint in Manhattan in a car that matches the description of the SUV. Danny tells Ava to bring up the footage of her stop at the checkpoint. While searching on Mary Jo's social media page, Danny finds out that she and Alex have a son named Jacob and she is part of the same radical mosque as Hassan. Danny also finds a link to a suicide bomber page. Ava brings up a picture of Mary Jo and her son and on the rearview mirror is the Arabic writing shown driving through the city. Danny and Ava then goes to question Alex.
Frank becomes aware of Mary Jo as Chief Bell tells him that the police are being redeployed again to the downtown parks, especially near Washington Square Park. Frank reminds him not to stop looking at other areas, even though they have a strong lead. Chief Bell reminds Frank that finding Mary Jo is only half the problem. Frank concurs and decides to contact the mayor's office and go public is the next best option. Danny and Ava arrive at Alex's apartment. Danny asks Alex if he knows where his wife is. Alex answers that Mary Jo is no longer his wife because they had gotten a divorce. Alex was going to meet Mary Jo. Danny asks where they were going to meet. Alex answers that they were going to meet at Washington Square Park at 4 o'clock near the arch. Danny calls in the information. Alex demands to know what is going on. Danny asks Alex what is going on. Alex tells Danny that he was awarded fully custody of Jacob and that Mary Jo was bringing him to his father. Mary Jo asked to spend one last night together as a family and that she had a beautiful place to show them. Danny takes Alex out of the apartment and they head to the park. Danny asks Alex if she is a radical and Alex confirms that Mary Jo converted to Islam and went crazy. Alex had been trying to remove Jacob from her ever since. Danny asks Alex if she is crazy enough to build a bomb. Alex becomes very frightened and declares that he has to save his son. Danny tries to calm him down by saying that he could be the trigger for Mary Jo to detonate the bomb. Jamie and Sgt. Renzulli head near the park to set up a perimeter as they discuss the case. Jamie doesn't like that he is being sent in not knowing what they are getting into. Sgt. Renzulli reminds him to follow orders and get used to not knowing.
Mary Jo drives up to the arch at the park when Jacob asks if he is going to sleep at his father's house. Mary Jo tells her son that they will all be together in a beautiful place. Mary Jo parks the car, puts on a hijab and smiles at her son. Danny and Alex arrive at the arch and Alex tries to approach the car. Danny stops him and tells him if he approaches, she could set off the bomb. Danny heads to a pay phone and calls for backup; saying that he has a visual on the car. Ava approaches behind the car. Jacob asks his mother where his father is as she takes out the detonator from the glove compartment. In Frank's office, he and the mayor discuss what they are going to say at the press conference. Frank suggests that they give a description of Mary Jo and the vehicle. The mayor sarcastically asks about adding in the information that a bomb is in the back seat. Frank agrees to the information. The Mayor reluctantly agrees saying that just saying that a bomb is in play is the right thing to do. Chief Bell then comes in and announces that Mary Jo has been located. The Mayor and Frank return to the emergency command center and they watch on a live surveillance camera. Danny tells Alex to leave, but he refuses. Danny tells him if he lets him go over to the car, Mary Jo will detonate the bomb. Alex says that Mary Jo wants them to stay together. Danny says that went Mary Jo told him that she wanted them to stay together, she wanted them in Heaven together. Alex asks if Danny would leave his son. Danny says he is trying to save Jacob and the bomb squad is on the way. Alex says that if Mary Jo sees the police, she would set off the bomb and she would never let Jacob go. Danny again says that they are waiting for the bomb squad. Alex begs Danny to save Jacob. Danny orders Alex to stay put and he approaches the car. Danny identifies himself as a coworker of Alex and he was going to be late in their meeting. Mary Jo says that she will stay in the car and asks Danny to tell Alex to meet them at the car. Mary Jo refuses to leave her car, so Danny decides to wait at the car with them. Mary Jo becomes nervous and Danny talks with Jacob. Mary Jo looks in the rearview mirror and sees the police arriving. Danny feigns ignorance and says that he will go and get Alex as Mary Jo puts her thumb over the detonator. Danny goes to leave the car when Jacob sees his father and calls out to him. Danny orders him back as Mary Jo orders him to come closer. The mayor questions Danny's plans as they watch the video feed.
The confrontation continues with Alex ordering Mary Jo to let Jacob go. Mary Jo tells Alex that they are married for eternity and that, if he doesn't approach the car, she will detonate the bomb and kill Jacob. Danny tries to calm the situation down by having Alex removed and talking to her. He pleads with Mary Jo not to set off the bomb and die alone as Ava slowly approaches the rear of the car. Mary Jo admits that the way things are going now is not the way it was supposed to happen. The people in the command center continue to watch the live feed when Chief Bell tells Frank that the ESU is ready to extract Danny and take over the scene. Frank orders the ESU to follow Danny's lead in the situation. Danny shows Mary Jo his badge and declares he is a detective. Danny promises to bring Alex over to the car as long as Mary Jo keeps her hands where they can be seen. Ava continues to move closer to the rear of the vehicle. He asks her to put the detonator on the dashboard and work together. Mary Jo agrees as Danny signals to have Ava move closer to the car. As soon as she puts the detonator on the dashboard, Ava opens the passenger side door and grabs Jacob as Danny reaches through the window and pulls Mary Jo out the window. Danny places Mary Jo on the ground and arrests her. Ava leads Jacob over to his father. Chief Bell announces that the bomb had been successfully disarmed and the mayor is asking Frank to appear at the press conference. Frank asks Chief Bell where he was on 9/11. Chief Bell answers that he and Frank were working together clearing out the North Tower. Frank apologizes that he was thinking out loud and remembers where they were on 9/11. Chief Bell reminds Frank that his son was out there to which Frank agrees. Chief Bell then says good night to Frank and leaves.
At the Reagan house, decorations are being put up for Jack's birthday as Jamie arrives with pizza. Frank announces that Danny is running late filling out a ton of reports. When Danny arrives, Henry praises Danny as a hero to which Danny announces he got chewed out by everybody. Frank praises his son, but reminds him that if he did in fact get chewed out, he deserved it. Linda and the kids arrive announcing that her day has been long and the subways were packed because of some kind of incident downtown. Linda wants to know what was going on and Frank tells her that she would be told all about it. Jack asks to eat his dinner on the back porch to which Frank defers to Henry. Henry says that, although Sunday dinners are to be held at the table, birthday Saturdays are open to anything as long as grace has been said. Erin asks Henry where his cane is and he announces that he no longer needs it and he wants to teach the children about handball. Frank then speaks up. He is grateful that his family went their separate ways in the morning and then returned to be together for Jack's birthday. Jack then takes his pizza to the back porch. Jamie then says grace over dinner and the family eats their dinner.
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